Spike.



S. J. GIESE.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 19:5.

LQQQGMB I Patented Oct. 10,1916.

amuemloz Mf M JOSEPH J. GIESE, OF AMZBIA, INDIANA.

SPIKE.

1,2oo,coa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed July 18, 1915. Serial No. 40,689.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. Gmsn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Ambia, in the county of Benton andState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad spikes of that type provided withmeans to lock them in the tie when embedded therein.

As a principal object, it is comprehended by this invention to provide aspike with locking means, such that when the spike is driven home intothe railroad tie or bed, it may be then looked in position againstwithdrawal.

It is a more specific object of the invention to form a railroad-spikewith a longitudinal bore therein from which a lateral opening extends atan angle through one side of the spike, and to loosely insert with inthis bore a locking element having a pointed angular end, the latteradapted to be driven through the opening into the tie by the insertionin the bore of a wedging key after the spike has been embedded, andremovable from the tie in the same manner.

A still further object is to combine with a spike formed in the mannerset forth, means for employing an auxiliary head upon the spike, for theinitial driving thereof, in order that the head of the spike may not beso battered as to prevent proper 1nsertion of the locking means in thebore of said spike.

The above and additional objects which will be hereinafter morespecifically treated, are accomplished by such means as are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, described in the following specificationand then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appendedhereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there is illustrated thepreferred embodiment of this invention, as it is reduced'to practice,and throughout the several views of which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view takenthrough a spike, showing the locking means as driven into place; Fig. 2is a similar view illustrating the method of removing the locking means;Fig. 3 is also a view of the same type showing the manner of employingan auxiliary head, and Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of the spikes ofFigs. 1 and 2 respectively, the wedging key being shown in section ineach of the views.

The spike, which is to be constructed after the manner of the presentinvention, may follow in outline any well-known or approvedconstruction. The spike is designated as a whole by the numeral 10 andat its lower end tapers to a point 11 permitting its entrance into thetie when driven home. At the opposite extremity the spike is formed withan enlarged head 12 and extending inwardly from this head andlongitudinally of the spike body, is an elongated recess or channel 13,the innermost extremity of which connects with an opening 1 1 at a rightangle to the bore and forming a continuation thereof, said openingleading outwardly through one side of the spike. the bore 13 is placedan insertible locking member comprising a shank 15 and a locking point16 projecting laterally from the lower end of the shank, said pointbeing of such length as to be accommodated within the bore 13 when thelocking member is inserted therein and also adapted to be driven throughthe aperture 14 and into engagement with the tie mate *ial. A, wedgingmember or key 17 is employed to direct movement of the locking member inthe manner to be immediately explained.

The spike is first driven home at the desired place, an auxiliary headbeing employed to prevent a battering and malformation of the edges ofthe channel 13. This head includes a portion 18 adapted to receive theblows of the hammer when driving the spike into the tie and providedwith an integral stem 19 which is received within the bore 13 and servesto maintain the auxiliary head upon the spike head 12. After the spikehas been driven home, this auxiliary head is removed and the lockingmember 15 is inserted in the bore, occupying at this time. an initialposition as shown in Fig. 2. The wedge member 17 is then insertedbetween a wall of the bore 13 and the shank 15 of the locking member insuch manner as to drive the latter laterally as shown in Fig. l, forcingthe point 16 outwardly through the opening 1 1, engaging, of course,with the wood of the tie and naturally preventing Withdrawal of thespike. If it be desired to remove the spike, the key 17 is withdrawn anddriven between the locking member and the opposite wall of the bore,

as shown in Fig. 2, to disengage the locking pin from the wood of thetie, after which the spike may be withdrawn from the tie in the usualmanner.

While in the foregoing, however, there has thus been illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification such combination andarrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, it is desired to emphasize the fact that such minor changesin the matters of proportion and degree may be made in later adaptationsof this device as shall not alter the spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

\Vhat is claimed is: a

1. The combination with a spike formed with a longitudinal bore closedsubstantially throughout its length and opened at the top and having alateral opening at the bottom leading from the bore to the outside ofthe spike, and a locking member having a laterally projecting pin on itslower end freely removable and insertible into said bore, said pinadapted to be forced laterally through said opening into the tie afterthe spike has been driven thereinto.

2. The combination with a spike formed with a longitudinal bore, of alaterally angularly extending opening leading from said bore to theoutside of the spike, a locking member having a laterally projecting pinon its lower end freely removable and insertible into said bore, a wedgemeans adapted to act against one of two sides of said bore and saidmember to force the pins through or withdraw the same from said opening.

3. In a spike formed with a longitudinal bore and a communicatinglateral opening extending from the lower end of said bore to the outsideof said spike, a locking member including a shank having an integrallaterally projecting locking point on its lower end freely insertibleinto said bore and adapted to be forced through said opening and intothe material holding said spike without distortion of said lockingmember.

4. In a spike formed with a longitudinal bore and provided with anopening extending from its lower end at an angle to said bore throughone of the walls thereof to the exterior of the spike a locking membercomprising a shank and an integral laterally projecting locking pointfreely insertible 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by ddressing the Commissioner 01' Patents, Washington, D. C."

